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Shiurim & Adult Education
THOUGHTS ON KORACH BY SIMON BRAUN
Korach is one of the better known sedras in the Torah. It tells of the revolt against Moshe and Aharon by a group of Levi’im led by Korach and a group of Reuvenites led by Datan, Aviram and On. Included in the rebellion were two hundred and fifty prominent members of the assembly. Korach thought he should become Nasi (leader) of the tribe of Levi and Datan and Aviram claimed leadership based on their descent from Reuven, the oldest of Yaakov’s sons. Moshe challenged Korach and his followers to appear the next day, to meet Moshe’s challenge. After warning the populace to keep clear of Korach and his assembly, Moshe announced the method with which Hashem would indicate His selection of their leaders. If the rebels would die a natural death Moshe would be proved wrong. If they would be swallowed alive by the earth, then Moshe’s leadership would be confirmed. No sooner had Moshe spoken, then Korach and his fellow rebels, as well as all their possessions, were swallowed alive into the ground. Interestingly, it is not clear from the sedra whether Korach himself is swallowed into the ground, but it is confirmed when we read the sedra Pinchas three weeks later.
There is much that we can learn from the sedra of Korach, but one thing that can be learnt is the idea of searching for peace by swallowing one’s pride. After Korach, Datan and Aviram commenced their rebellion, we are told that Moshe went to search for Datan and Aviram to try and placate them with words of peace. This was the great leader who had spoken to Hashem at Mount Sinai. Yet he did not become aloof and wait for the rebels to come to him. Moshe took the initiative and the moral high ground and went in search of peace. If peace could be achieved by him coming to them, then so be it.
It is unfortunate that for some, quarrelling appears to be a pastime. They argue and even when wrong, don’t have the courage to admit it as their pride does not allow them to do so. Moshe’s attitude shows how foolish this approach is. If the great leader of Bnei Yisroel was willing to go and search for peace, then how much more should we always be willing to do this! We should never let our pride stand in the way of progress. If we do, we are like the farmer who went to the barn every day to get milk, but every day returned with an empty pail. ‘How come you never bring back any milk’ his wife asked. ‘Because the only way for me to get milk is for me to bend down and milk the cow’, explained the farmer. ‘And I’d rather die than lose my pride and bend down to a cow’!
In Shmoneh Esrei we take three steps backwords at the words ‘Oshe Shalom’. This is an indication that for the sake of peace, one has to frequently go out of his way, even if it means swallowing one’s pride. We should all remember this and the words of Midrash Shmuel which say – ‘Even if peace alludes you, go after it and you will catch up with it’.
Shabbat Shalom and chodesh tov
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